Pipe construction

ABSTRACT

Elevator mechanism for use in lifting and placement of pipe sections having a U-shaped body portion including upper and lower flanges joined by a bight portion, each flange having a lateral slot therein which are aligned for receiving a pipe, and openings through the upper flange at each side of the slot for receiving a flexible elevator lifting member.

United States Patent [1 1 Monroe Dec. 18, 1973 PIPE CONSTRUCTION [76] inventor: Edwin T. Monroe, 1 Pleasant Dr.,

Cameron, W. Va. 26033 [22] Filed: June 20, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 264,597-

[521 US. Cl 294/91, 24/249 DP, 294/86 R [51] Int. Cl. .1 B66c 1/16 [58] Field of Search 294/67 EA, 74, 78 R,

294/82 R, 86 R, 86.1, 90, 91, 92, 102 A; 24/123 R, 123 A, 249 R, 249 PP, 249 PC, 249 DP; 254/29 R, 30, 100, 133 R, 133 A [56] 7 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,202,450 8/1965 Servis 294/91 3,300,205 1/1967 Fitzpatrick 24/249 FA X 517,281 3/l894 Kirkbride 294/104 200,329 2/1878 ODonnell 294/91 2,244,533 6/1941 Fletcher 294/74 2,662,791 12/1953 Kittler 294/91 2,569,978 10/1951 Dunlap 294/92 Primary ExaminerEvon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-Johnny D. Cherry Attorney-Rommel & Rommel [57] ABSTRACT Elevator mechanism for use in lifting and placement of pipe sections having a U-shaped body portion including upper and lower flanges joined by a bight portion, each flange having a lateral slot therein which are aligned for receiving a pipe, and openings through the upper flange at each side of the slot for receiving a flexible elevator lifting member.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEUOEB 18 I915 I 3.779.594 SHEET 10? 2 PAIENIEDHEB 18 ms 3779.594

SHEET 2 OF 2 vwwr PIPE CONSTRUCTION This invention relates to elevator constructions to place and pull well or sucker pipes.

In the art relating to elevator construction for handling production pipe in drilled wells the equipment is generally cumbersome, inconvenient to handle and sometimes unsafe. It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide a safe and convenient light elevator mechanism which may be conveniently manipulated by hoisting equipment to quickly handle the placement or pulling of production pipes.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an initial connection of hoisting equipment to the chain of the elevator body while the pipe section is preferably horizontally positioned.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the hoisting equipment having lifted the pipe and running it into a well casing.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the body of the elevator supporting the pipe section upon the casing coupling with the elevator shaft in out of the way position preparatory to connection of another pipe section to the coupling of the pipe section just placed.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a step in the attachment of a hoist supported pipe section to the elevator as positioned in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of 'the elevator body.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIG. 3, showing the details of the elevator body and chain in connection with a pipe section and resting upon the coupling of a casing.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the letter A may generally designate a well casing which at the upper. end thereof includes an internally screw threaded coupling upon which a well pipe section B is adapted to support during assemblage of the pipe section by an elevator construction C. The elevator includes a body D and a looped chain E, both of strong metal, although they may be made of other materials if found suitable. A flexible looped cable may replace the chain E if so desired but it would be manipulated in the same way as the chain E shown in the drawings. Hoisting equipment F is used for lifting and placing the pipe sections in the well casing, as will be subsequently described.

Referring to the improved elevator construction, the body D, shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings, may be formed of forged metal or other strong and durable material. It is of U-shaped cross section from end to end including a top flange 10, a spaced bottom flange 11 and a bight portion 12 which is preferably curved. The channel or recess 13 extends from end to end of the body D opening at both ends of the body. This construction enables the chain to be more conveniently actuated to grip the pipe. The lower flange 11 is provided with a slot 14 opening from the free edge 15 of a size which will permit free insertion of a pipe section B below the coupling. The top flange '10 is provided with a somewhat similar slot 16 in alignment with the slot 14, for also freely receiving the body of the pipe B. The

flange 10 along the rear top portion of the slot 16 is countersunk at 20 to provide a seat edge for receiving thereon the pipe coupling 25 which is internally screw threaded at 26 to receive an upper section of pipe B.

The chain E of the elevator construction C is preferably an endless loop link type although a flexible cable could be used. The links 30 are extended for free sliding through openings 35 and 36 provided in the flange 10 on each side of the slot 16 as shown in FIG. 5. The chain mayextend into and along the passageway 13.

It is necessary to use hoisting construction F which includes a hook 40 adapted to releasably extend through the opening of the outer part of the looped chain or member E.

In operation, production pipes B are stacked or laid horizontally on skids or timbers placed on the ground within easy reach of the hook of the hoisting mechanism F. The elevator constructions C are very light and easily handled. The chain E is pulled into the recess 13 of the body D through openings 35 and 36 sufficiently to clamp over the pipe end of the pipe B as shown in FIG. 1 and under the coupling 25. The outer or top loop of the flexible chain E is then slipped onto the hook 40 of the hoisting mechanism F as shown in FIG. 1. The section of the pipe B is then hoisted upwardly and lowered into the well casing A until the elevator body D rests on the top coupling of casing A and the looped chain is then released from the hoisting mechanism, pulled into the passageway 13 and looped back of the casing coupling as shown in FIG. 3.

A second elevator mechanism C is used to hoist the next section of pipe B by the hoisting mechanism F and the screw threaded end 50 thereof is lowered into the pipe coupling 25 just placed in the well casing and the parts of the coupling and pipe screwed together by wrenches or other means. Until this is accomplished the hoisting mechanism F is firmly attached to the pipe B. Then the hoisting mechanism lifts the assembled pipe slightly so that the first elevator mechanism shown in position in FIGS. 3 and 4 can be removed. The hoisting mechanism then lowers the connected pipe sections B and B into the casing until the second elevator mechanism C rests on the casing A. The freed elevator is then attached to another section of pipe and the process repeated until the proper depth of placement of the well pipes has been reached.

For pulling old wells the process above described is reversed.

From the foregoing it can be readily understood that the elevator mechanism, particularly the U-shaped body is so constructed as to be light in weight for free manipulation of the chain through associated openings 35 and 36 and along the channel 13. The slot 16 and its countersunk seat 20 enable quick, safe and efficient attachment of the pipe sections thereto.

Various changes may be made to the forms of the invention herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

I. In an elevator mechanism for use in association with a flexible elevator lifting member in placement and pulling of pipe sections, the combination of an elevator body having a substantially U-shaped body portion including upper and lower flanges and a bight portion all of substantially the same thickness and defining an elongated recess between said flanges, said upper flange of said U-shaped body portion including a lateral slot opening at the free edge of said flange and terminating short of said bight portion, openings through said upper flange at each side of said lateral slot thereof for receiving said flexible elevator lifting member which may extend freely along the said recess between said flanges and through the openings for gripping a pipe section, said lower flange having a slot therein aligning with said slot of said upper flange for freely receiving a pipe therein.

2. An elevator body as defined in claim 1 in which the slot in the upper flange is provided with a top countersunk seat laterally extending at its rear portion beyond the width of the slot at the dead end of the slot.

3. As an article of manufacture, for use in an elevator construction for placement and pulling of pipes, an elevator of strong rigid construction having a substantially U-shaped body portion including upper and lower substantially parallel spaced flanges connected by a bight portion and defining therethrough a channel, said upper and lower flanges each having a laterally extending slot extending from the free edge thereof to adjacent said bight portion of said body portion, said slot of upper flange being axially aligned with said slot of said lower flange, and said upper flange includes a pair of openings therethrough to each side of said slot thereof.

4. The elevator construction defined in claim 3 in which a flexible chain loop is freely threaded through the openings of the upper flange so that a looped end thereof can enter the channel for pipe clamping purposes and an outer flexible loop end may be connected to hoisting mechanism.

5. In an elevator construction for placement and pull ing of pipes within a well casing, the combination of a pair of elevator mechanisms for use in the assembling and disassembling of pipe. sections, which pipe sections may have external couplings on the upper ends thereof, said elevator mechanisms each including a channeled body portion having upper and lower flanges free of connection at the outer edges thereof and connecting by a bight portion at the inner ends thereof, said flanges having slots extending transversely therethrough in aligning relation and opening at the free edges of the flanges and terminating short of the bight portion connecting said flanges, said upper flange having openings therethrough at each side of its slot, each of said elevator mechanisms having an endless flexible member looped and freely threaded through the openings whereby when the lower elevator supports a pipe section upon a well casing and is lowered into the well case, another pipe section may be lowered into the coupling of the lower pipe section for connection thereto. 6. An elevator construction as defined in claim 5 in which the looped end of the chain in the body channel when the hoisting mechanism supports the body with a pipe supported thereby the channel receives the chain surrounding the pipe to clamp the pipe against the inner ends of said flanges. 

1. In an elevator mechanism for use in association with a flexible elevator lifting member in placement and pulling of pipe sections, the combination of an elevator body having a substantially U-shaped body portion including upper and lower flanges and a bight portion all of substantially the same thickness and defining an elongated recess between said flanges, said upper flange of said U-shaped body portion including a lateral slot opening at the free edge of said flangE and terminating short of said bight portion, openings through said upper flange at each side of said lateral slot thereof for receiving said flexible elevator lifting member which may extend freely along the said recess between said flanges and through the openings for gripping a pipe section, said lower flange having a slot therein aligning with said slot of said upper flange for freely receiving a pipe therein.
 2. An elevator body as defined in claim 1 in which the slot in the upper flange is provided with a top countersunk seat laterally extending at its rear portion beyond the width of the slot at the dead end of the slot.
 3. As an article of manufacture, for use in an elevator construction for placement and pulling of pipes, an elevator of strong rigid construction having a substantially U-shaped body portion including upper and lower substantially parallel spaced flanges connected by a bight portion and defining therethrough a channel, said upper and lower flanges each having a laterally extending slot extending from the free edge thereof to adjacent said bight portion of said body portion, said slot of upper flange being axially aligned with said slot of said lower flange, and said upper flange includes a pair of openings therethrough to each side of said slot thereof.
 4. The elevator construction defined in claim 3 in which a flexible chain loop is freely threaded through the openings of the upper flange so that a looped end thereof can enter the channel for pipe clamping purposes and an outer flexible loop end may be connected to hoisting mechanism.
 5. In an elevator construction for placement and pulling of pipes within a well casing, the combination of a pair of elevator mechanisms for use in the assembling and disassembling of pipe sections, which pipe sections may have external couplings on the upper ends thereof, said elevator mechanisms each including a channeled body portion having upper and lower flanges free of connection at the outer edges thereof and connecting by a bight portion at the inner ends thereof, said flanges having slots extending transversely therethrough in aligning relation and opening at the free edges of the flanges and terminating short of the bight portion connecting said flanges, said upper flange having openings therethrough at each side of its slot, each of said elevator mechanisms having an endless flexible member looped and freely threaded through the openings whereby when the lower elevator supports a pipe section upon a well casing and is lowered into the well case, another pipe section may be lowered into the coupling of the lower pipe section for connection thereto.
 6. An elevator construction as defined in claim 5 in which the looped end of the chain in the body channel when the hoisting mechanism supports the body with a pipe supported thereby the channel receives the chain surrounding the pipe to clamp the pipe against the inner ends of said flanges. 